The new curriculum for family medicine at the University of Split, School of Medicine.

According to the new curriculum at the University of Split School of Medicine for the 2010/2011 academic year, the Department of Family Medicine based its teaching on its own expert and research work. The adequacy of the communication with the patient, his or her family and the social environment, as well as the concept of evidence-based medicine (EBM) have been defined as the foundation of expert and research work in family medicine. In accordance with this strategy, the members of the Department are involved in conducting journal clubs, Cochrane systematic reviews, research into the health of families where the father is absent working abroad (there are many such families with emigrant fathers in the region), and some are working on developing student letters to patients as an instrument for encouraging communication and empathy. The proportion of theoretical classes was reduced to provide more time for practice-based classes for students. The Work Diary was also introduced, as well as the student letter to the patient, practice of clinical skills and objective, structured, clinical examination (OSCE). The assessment of students is performed in four parts: the grade given by the students practice supervisor, the grade for student letters to patients, the OSCE exam grade and the written exam grade. Students achieved, on average, very high grades. The Department is also involved in the course on clinical and social skills to first and second year students, taking on the task of introducing students to patients and their surroundings.